how long do books stay "current"

[ultane123]

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just wondering what you all thought about textbooks/review books being updated every 3-4 years or so? are they really overhauled all that much? if you buy the most current books when you start med school, are they still up to date 4 years later when you finish school? any thoughts?

u.

 

[dynx]

just wondering what you all thought about textbooks/review books being updated every 3-4 years or so? are they really overhauled all that much? if you buy the most current books when you start med school, are they still up to date 4 years later when you finish school? any thoughts?

u.

I find that when I put them in the refrigerator they keep longer.

 

[Blake]

I find that when I put them in the refrigerator they keep longer.

Hilarious. Honestly, I think the updates are really minor changes, but I don't know much. Think of it as supporting the economy.

 

[Zazoo]

i've been told that the information is 2-3 years out of date the moment a book is published ( 😱 ).
but i guess in practical terms, depending on the subject (pharmacology is very fast-changing, whereas anatomy not so much), the information in a textbook will be valid over your time in med school.
fridges and freezers can also do wonders 😉

 

[Dr Who]

Unless your school really, really encourages you to buy the newer versions dont waste your money. The last time I checked we still were made of the same tissues and had the same chemical pathways that the last edition said we had.
Most publishers rearrange the chapters and illustrations, and change the cover of the book, then packege the thing as a spanking new edition so students would pay for new books instead of buying old ones.
The one exception to this is if you know that exam questions will be coming from the new edition of a certain book, for example histology slides. Then you would be a dope not to invest.
Other than that stick to used books that your upperclassmen will be haking the first weeks of school. You pay less than half price.